Can you eat feijoas with Guava moth
In this brief guide, we will address the query, “can you eat feijoas with Guava moth?” We will also discuss what Guava moth is, where it comes from and what effects have on the infected foods.
Can you eat feijoas with Guava moths?
No, you cannot eat feijoas affected by Guava moths. Infection of Guava moths causes rotting, brown patches, and excreta and mold of the caterpillar will be inside the fruit, which will make it inedible. Also, it causes early fruit drops.
The feijoa market is one of the most affected by this parasite, we will discuss how Guava moths can be stopped and what other crops are affected by it.
What is the Guava moth?
The scientific name of this species is Coscinoptycha improbana, it has a wingspan of approximately 15 mm. It is an Australian species, it was first discovered in New Zealand in 1997. In recent years it has become a serious problem for agriculture.
The Guava moth can lay its eggs on several species of fruits and nuts. Unfortunately, this insect can breed all year round. So, if you notice some symptoms in your crops like:
- Premature fruit drop
- Bruising in the fruit
- Discoloration
- Exit holes
- Or you may even notice the larvae’s excreta
What crops are affected by Guava moths?
Guava moths can make themselves even at home! Some of the affected species are::
- Guava
- Citrus (grapefruit, mandarins, lemons, and oranges)
- Apples
- Peaches
- Pears
- Plums
- Peppers
- Loquat
- Macadamia
But commercially, it affects mainly the feijoas market. And, as its reproductive cycle does not stop, it is nearly impossible to stop with insecticides because of the short periods the caterpillar stays on the surface of the fruit.
How can guava moth be prevented?
Prevention is key to avoiding severe infestations of guava moths. Some tips to stop larger infestations of these insects are:
- Talk to your neighbors. If you coordinate with them, it is most likely that severe infestations build up.
- Use a bug net to cover your trees and prevent the laying of their eggs. Also, you can cut the net into sections to cover the fruit as well.
- To not affect pollination, wait until after your tree flowers.
How can you treat Guava moth infestation?
If the infestation is not that severe, you can solve it with some Guava moth traps, which are provided with a pheromone scent that is naturally released by female moths to attract the males.
Buy some Neem oil and spray it if you catch 5 or more moths every two weeks. You need to be very rigorous when the first fruit starts to form because it is the time moths are most likely to lay the eggs.
If you want to read more about Guava moths, please click here.
What are feijoas?
Feijoas are fruits with distinctive characteristics, they have edible dark green skin. Feijoas possess a sweet scent that can be compared to bubblegum with strawberry and pineapple. They usually weigh about 80 to 120 grams.
Most people do not eat the feijoas’ skin because of the bitter taste. The flesh of these fruits can be paired with pear flesh, which is soft but also sandy-like. At the very center, you can find a jelly center with seeds.
Where can you find feijoas?
Feijoas are native to southern Brazil, northern Argentina, western Paraguay, and Uruguay. These fruits are also cultivated in Chile and some other South American countries. In India, most people have them in their gardens.
As you can see, many countries depend on feijoas production, so if Guava moth infestation takes place, severe damage to the economy of the agricultural sectors of these countries will be caused.
Some other countries that grow feijoas for commercial purposes are:
- Colombia
- the USA, especially California
- Italy
- Armenia
- Russia
- Georgia
- Turkey
- Australia
- Japan
- China
- Israel
We hope that science finds a way to prevent such severe infestations of these insects as the effects on the economy are important.
What can you prepare with feijoas?
If you happen to find some feijoas nearby your area, then you should definitely give them a try. So, we will provide you with some recipes. If you prepare them, tell us what you think about them!
- Feijoa and Blueberry buttermilk cake (this one is as moist as delicious!)
Other FAQs about Guava that you may be interested in.
Conclusion
In this brief guide, we have addressed the query, “can you eat feijoas with guava moth?” We have also discussed other queries related to the subject at hand.
Hope you found this blog useful. If you have any questions, please let us know.
Citations
https://plantdoctor.co.nz/problem-finder/guava-moth/
https://www.feijoaaddiction.com/feijoafacts
https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/homed/garden/124569353/protect-your-feijoas-from-guava-moth
